Communication Workers Union

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is a union for workers in the communication industries.

'Mass Mobilisation' to Thwart Epping Protest

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From a Socialist Worker article dated July 27, 2025 titled: "Anti-racists outnumber fascists at crucial Essex protest":[1],[2]

"Anti-racists outnumbered fascists in Epping, Essex, on Sunday. Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) organised a counter-demonstration that was around 750-strong to meet a demonstration of some 300 fascist and far right thugs.
The protests came after fascists had laid siege to The Bell Hotel, in the outer reaches of east London, that houses refugees. They held several demonstrations outside the hotel this month, attacking anti-racists and police at these protests.
But they were unable to do that this time as the strength of anti-racists was on display. Hundreds gathered at Epping Tube station, then marched to near The Bell Hotel, where the fascists had gathered.
There was a heavy police presence as metal fences kept the two groups apart. Chants of “Can you hear the Nazis sing? I can’t hear a fucking thing” rang out. Several local residents came out of their houses and waved SUTR placards or copies of Socialist Worker.
One local resident told Socialist Worker, “We have never had any trouble” with refugees. She said that residents don’t want the far right who “are coming from outside the area.” “They are using women’s rights as an excuse to abuse people who haven’t done anything,” she said.
“These people weren’t out throwing a fit when white people did the same thing to little girls.” But some other locals were won over by the fascists and shouted at anti-racists as they passed.
The fascists seized on a refugee being charged with sexual assault in Epping to push a racist agenda.
Denise Henry, a national black members rep for the NEU education union, told Socialist Worker that “all are welcome” in Britain. “We are no strangers here, as according to the prime minister,” she said. Adding that the far right “is not about patriotism, but racism.” “They are showing aggression and it all stems from racism. It is about dividing us.”
Donna, an SUTR activist, said that it was “pathetic” that the Nazi Tommy Robinson, who called on the far right to march in Epping, didn’t turn up. “We won’t let them ruin the lives of refugees and migrants,” she said. She was “pleased” that anti-racists outnumbered them because “it shows that we are the majority.”
Jamie Newell from the FBU firefighters’ union spoke at the counter-protest. He said, “People like Keir Starmer, Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, they prey on driving division, fear and hatred. But we do not allow it, and we fight against it, and we fight against it by moments like this, by coming together and standing up to the cowards over there and telling them no.”
Another protester said that the far right pretending to defend women “is a rouse and a lie.” She thought that “they never actually care about women. They don’t give a shit about my safety all they want to do is beat people up.”
There were a number of trade union banners on the anti-racist march. Jane from the NEU Cambridge branch said, “If you are in a trade union, you need to be standing against fascism and racism. Reach out to your union members. We need everybody involved.”
NEU vice president, Ed Harlow, told the crowd of anti-racists that the far right “are only here to stoke racial hatred.” “I say to those people, the enemies of working people in this country are not crossing the Channel in small boats,” he said.
“The enemies of working people in this country are not staying in hotels in Epping. The enemies of people in this country are floating around the Mediterranean on super yachts.
Lewis Nielsen, an SUTR anti-fascist officer, also spoke. He said, “When I hear, a Labour prime minister and Labour shadow cabinet members using the language of the far right on immigration, my message to them is shame on you. Shame on Starmer. Shame on Angela Rayner.”
Anti-racists denied the fascists a victory on Sunday by outnumbering them. In the run-up to the counter-protest, SUTR exposed that the Nazi party, Homeland, was at the heart of organising the anti-refugee protests.
The group showed the growing links between far right party Reform UK and the fascists in Epping. This helped to drive a wedge between the fascist organisers and the wider “softer racist” support they try to mobilise .
But the fight is far from over.
The far right is still trying to mobilise against hotels housing refugees. They are emboldened by Nigel Farage, Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and other figures in Reform UK who shifted to embrace far right street mobilisations.
They had previously tried to keep a distance between themselves and Robinson, who wants to build a fascist street movement. One fascist target is the Thistle City Barbican hotel, in central London, that houses refugees. Fascists plan to protest at the hotel next Saturday and anti-racists are mobilising at 12.30pm to oppose them.
And the threat of Robinson has not gone away. Almost every day he posts on social media about his demonstration set for Saturday 13 September in central London. SUTR has called a counter-protest. Anti-racists have to use Sunday’s win to deepen their roots and organisation in Epping—and to build for the biggest possible turnout on 13 September.

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References

  1. ↑ Anti-racists outnumber fascists at crucial Essex protest (accessed July 28, 2025)
  2. ↑ Archive Link: Anti-racists outnumber fascists at crucial Essex protest (accessed July 28, 2025)
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